Virgin America to begin daily flights between Nashville and San Francisco

• Virgin America joins United Airlines with daily, nonstop service between Nashville and San Francisco.

Virgin America will make its debut at Nashville International Airport with daily, nonstop flights to and from San Francisco starting Tuesday.

The air carrier owned by Alaska Airlines' parent joins United Airlines with daily, nonstop service between Nashville and that West Coast city.

"Virgin America is yet another new airline to join the BNA roster, giving Middle Tennessee business and leisure travelers even more choices for traveling to and from the Bay Area," said Doug Kreulen, the Metro Nashville Airport Authority's acting CEO.

Virgin America's 119-seat Airbus 319 aircraft will leave San Francisco daily at 12:55 p.m. (Pacific time) and arrive in Nashville at 7:25 p.m. (Central time). The daily flight from Nashville to San Francisco is scheduled to leave here at 8:15 p.m. and arrive in the Bay Area at 11:25 p.m. (Pacific time).

Separately, United Airlines offers two flights a day from Nashville to San Francisco.

Alaska Airlines, whose parent acquired Virgin America last year, has a flight to Seattle from Nashville International Airport.

Under the merger, the combined company will adopt Alaska's name and logo with Virgin America's likely to be retired sometime in 2019.  Alaska Airlines, however, said it would adopt elements of Virgin America's brand such as enhanced in-flight entertainment, mood lighting and music with the goal "to create a warm and welcoming West Coast-inspired vibe."

Reach Getahn Ward at gward@tennessean.com or 615-726-5968 and on Twitter @getahn.